Tropical Storm Bonnie’s center made landfall in Cutler Bay, about 20 miles south of Miami, at about 11 a.m. today. The storm was characterized mostly by strong winds and heavy rain for most of the morning, and early afternoon.
The worst of the storm has now passed Miami, and the storm will soon enter the Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to strengthen as it moves into the Gulf of Mexico.
All tropical storm warnings for South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Bahamas, have been lifted. At Virginia Key, sustained winds were measured at 41 mph with gusts as high as 58 mph according to the National Weather Service in Miami.
While this storm proved to be a non-event for South Florida, it did allow us to ensure that we are prepared for hurricane season. This hurricane season promises to be an active one, and Miami was recently listed as to the top city in the country that is long overdue for a major hurricane strike. Miami has not been hit by a major hurricane since 1992 when Hurricane Andrew made landfall, and has not been hit by any hurricane since Hurricane Wilma made landfall in October of 2005. Therefore, it is important to be prepared during hurricane season.
Our Miami insurance dispute attorneys encourage residents to review whether or not they are prepared for the hurricane season. While South Florida has gotten a pass thus far this summer, serious storms, including the threat of tropical storms or hurricanes, will become soon become commonplace in the months ahead. And while Tropical Storm Bonnie was mostly a non-event causing little to no damage, the same may not be the case for the next storm.